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Orangeville Resident to Benefit from New Advanced Cardiac Procedure Now Offered at Southlake Regional Health Centre

Closer-to-home treatment expected to save lives, enhance
quality of life and reduce procedure wait times

Orangeville, Ontario –August 23, 2011 – Orangeville resident Kay Ledlow has been given renewed life, thanks to an advanced cardiac procedure recently introduced at Newmarket-based Southlake Regional Health Centre.

The procedure, called Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI), has not only repaired Kay’s heart problems, but it has also given the 89-year-old the vitality and independence to resume the activities she loves, such as driving, line dancing, swimming and cooking.

Had it not been for Southlake – the first community-based hospital in Canada to offer TAVI  – Kay would likely have had to wait several months longer to undergo the procedure at a Toronto-based hospital. She would also have had to make several pre-procedure and follow-up trips to Toronto, which would have presented an additional strain not only on her but on her family as well, Kay explained.

TAVI is used to treat patients diagnosed with severe aortic stenosis (AS), a condition where the aortic valve becomes deformed and narrowed. Experienced by approximately five per cent of the population over the age of 75, severe AS causes such symptoms as chest pain, dizziness, fainting, shortness of breath and a deteriorating quality of life. Left untreated, severe AS may also lead to heart attack, stroke or sudden death.

Performed on patients who are considered too risky to receive open heart surgery due to age or complex medical problems, TAVI involves implanting a substitute valve made of cow tissue, along with a stainless steel supporting frame, into the human heart via tubes placed in either the groin or chest.

With the procedure, patients experience less pain and scaring than with open heart surgery, said Dr. Charles Peniston, Chief and Medical Director of Southlake’s Cardiac Surgery Program. As well, most patients undergoing TAVI recover within a couple of weeks, as opposed to the two to three month recovery period required for conventional open heart surgery, he explained.

“The TAVI procedure now offered at Southlake is potentially life-saving for many patients,” Dr. Peniston said. “The procedure will improve quality of life and enable patients to carry on with their daily activities. Left untreated, severe AS has a disabling impact on patients, as symptoms often rob them of their independence and can require others to help them with their day to day living activities.”

For Kay, who suffered from AS, the procedure has been life-altering. “With aortic stenosis, I couldn’t do anything without constantly stopping to catch my breath or feeling dizzy,” she said. “I was losing my independence because of my limited ability to carry out simple tasks that we often take for granted. Thanks to the procedure, I’m back to taking daily walks and doing chores around the house.”

According to Orangeville cardiologist Dr. Robert Apps, who referred Kay for the treatment, “Kay recovery is remarkable and especially incredible when compared to what she would have experienced after open heart surgery.”

Southlake was able to introduce TAVI due to the combined expertise of the hospital’s cardiac surgery, interventional, and cardiology teams, said Dr. Dave Williams, President and CEO of Southlake. Contributions from the Southlake Foundation and individual donors also aided in establishing the new service in Newmarket.

“We are fortunate to have an incredibly talented and innovative team of cardiac experts, many of whom have performed North American or world firsts,” Dr. Williams said.  “As Southlake transitions into a teaching and research centre, the community can expect further advanced procedures in all areas of medicine to be offered in Newmarket by some of Canada’s top healthcare professionals.”

Individuals who feel that they may benefit from TAVI should speak with their family doctor, who can then make a referral to a specialist at Southlake for further assessment.

About Southlake Regional Health Centre

Southlake Regional Health Centre is a full-service hospital with a provincial mandate to deliver advanced diagnostic and treatment services within eight regional programs, including cardiac care.  The Regional Cardiac Care Program at Southlake has achieved national acclaim by performing a number of world and North American firsts. On the threshold of becoming the third busiest cardiac centre in Ontario, the program continues to make substantial progress in the area of cardiac research and innovation, while improving services and patient outcomes. Southlake is in the process of transforming into a teaching and research centre. 

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